Author: Ethan Caldwell

People searching for the “Shining Hotel” are usually looking for one of three places: the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, the fictional Overlook Hotel from Stephen King’s story, or Timberline Lodge in Oregon, which appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film. Each has a different role in the history of The Shining. Quick Answer The “Shining Hotel” is not one official place. Stephen King’s novel was inspired by the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. The Overlook Hotel is fictional. Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film used Oregon’s Timberline Lodge for exterior footage and studio sets in England for most of its production. Key…

Checking out of a hotel is usually simple, but a few minutes of preparation can prevent forgotten belongings, billing surprises, late-departure fees, and last-minute travel stress. Before you leave, confirm your hotel’s checkout time, pack carefully, review your bill, follow the property’s checkout procedure, and arrange luggage storage or transportation if needed. Quick Answer To check out of a hotel, pack your belongings, do a final room sweep, review your bill, and tell the hotel you are leaving through the front desk, hotel app, online checkout, or another method the property provides. Leave by the hotel’s stated checkout time unless…

Getting a free hotel room is possible, but “free” usually means using hotel points, a free-night certificate, a promotion, or another reward to cover the room rate. You may still have to pay for parking, food, extra guests, service charges, deposits, or other incidentals. The best strategy is to compare the cash price, points price, and remaining fees before you book. Quick Answer The most reliable ways to get a free hotel room are redeeming hotel loyalty points, using a free-night certificate, transferring eligible credit-card rewards to a hotel program, and taking advantage of targeted promotions. Always check award availability,…

Hotel prices can move in either direction as your trip gets closer, which is why there is no single booking window that works for every destination or every stay. The best strategy depends on how flexible you are, how important a particular hotel or room type is, and whether your dates overlap with a holiday, festival, convention, or other high-demand period. Quick Answer There is no single perfect day to book a hotel. Current 2026 data shows that flexible travelers can sometimes save by booking within one or two weeks of arrival, but holidays, major events, resorts, and must-have rooms…

The Plaza Hotel has been one of New York City’s best-known luxury hotels since the present building opened at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South in 1907. Designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in a French Renaissance-inspired style, the landmark later became part of Donald Trump’s real estate portfolio. His ownership lasted through a turbulent period of heavy debt, restructuring, and a 1995 deal that transferred control to international investors. Quick Answer Donald Trump gave up control of the Plaza Hotel in 1995 in a transaction valuing it at about $325 million. The controlling interest went to a partnership led by…

Hotel check-in usually begins in the afternoon, with 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM common at many U.S. properties. However, there is no universal hotel check-in time. The exact hour, early-arrival rules, late-arrival cutoff, fees, and mobile check-in options depend on the specific hotel and reservation. Quick Answer Many hotels begin normal check-in around 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM, but the property’s listed time is the one that matters. You may be able to check in earlier if a clean room is available. If you will arrive late, especially after midnight, contact the hotel so your reservation is not treated as…

Hotel prices can vary from less-expensive roadside rooms to several hundred dollars per night in high-demand cities and resorts. The amount you actually pay depends on the destination, exact dates, hotel type, room choice, local taxes, parking, and optional extras. For a useful U.S. benchmark, CoStar reported an average daily rate of $168.51 in May 2026, but your own trip may cost far less or far more. Quick Answer A typical U.S. hotel-room benchmark is around $170 per night based on May 2026 industry data, but there is no single standard hotel price. Location, dates, events, hotel class, room type,…

IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s largest hotel groups, with properties ranging from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to familiar roadside, business, extended-stay, and value-focused brands. As of March 31, 2026, IHG reported 7,014 open hotels with more than one million rooms in over 100 countries. That range gives travelers many choices, but amenities, prices, breakfast, parking, pet rules, and service levels can differ significantly by brand and individual hotel. Quick Answer An IHG hotel is a property operating within the IHG Hotels & Resorts system. IHG has 21 hotel brands covering luxury, premium, essentials, and suite-focused…

Tipping hotel cleaning staff is a simple way to recognize work that is easy to overlook. Housekeepers make beds, replace linens, clean bathrooms, restock supplies, remove trash, and prepare rooms for the next guest. In the United States, tipping is customary but not legally required, and the appropriate amount depends on the room, service level, local norms, and your budget. Quick Answer In the U.S., $2–$5 per room per day is a common etiquette range, while hotel-worker advocates currently recommend at least $5 per day. Tip daily when possible, label the money for housekeeping, and give more for suites, extra…

IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s largest hotel groups, with properties ranging from luxury resorts to practical extended-stay and budget-conscious hotels. The company became a standalone hotel business in 2003 and today connects travelers with thousands of properties under brands such as InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and many more. Quick Answer An IHG hotel is a property operating under an IHG Hotels & Resorts brand or participating through an IHG partner arrangement. As of March 31, 2026, IHG’s global system included 7,014 hotels across more than 100 countries and 21…

Hotel valet tipping can feel confusing, especially when you are already paying a daily parking fee or using the service several times during one stay. In the United States, the simplest approach is to treat the valet tip as a small thank-you for the person who returns your vehicle, then adjust the amount when the service requires extra effort. Quick Answer At a U.S. hotel, tip a valet about $2 to $5 when your car is returned, with $5 being an easy default for good service. Consider $5 to $10 for exceptional help, difficult weather, or unusual requests. A hotel…

IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s largest hotel groups, with properties ranging from value-focused and extended-stay hotels to luxury resorts. The legal parent, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, became a standalone company in 2003. Today, travelers will more often see the name IHG Hotels & Resorts used for the company’s hotel portfolio and IHG One Rewards used for its loyalty program. Quick Answer IHG Hotels & Resorts has 21 hotel brands spanning luxury, premium, essentials, suites, and an exclusive beachfront-resort partnership. As of March 31, 2026, IHG reported 7,014 open hotels in more than 100 countries. Its loyalty…